Ahh, this update was sooner than I thought it'd be!
Also, I changed the icon, please tell me if you'd rather it stay the same or not.
Disclaimer: I won't ever own this and starting from now won't have disclaimers! XD
A few years later.
Momo: 10
Shintaro: 11 (very soon to be 12)
"HAAAH! WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE! WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!"
"Momo dear, calm down. We're not going to be late."
"I'm almost done getting ready Momo! We'll be on time so don't worry and just eat your breakfast," Shintaro called as he zipped around the house, putting various things into his bag while simultaneously pulling his uniform on.
"That'll take too much time!" Momo said frantically, hopping up and down. "We have to be there early; don't you remember that it's nii-chan's entrance ceremony?"
"Believe me, sweetie, no one knows that more than I do and- wait." Her mother stopped herself mid-coffee-sip. "'Nii-chan?' Where did that come from? Just yesterday you were calling him 'onii-chan'."
Shintaro paused his desperate search for his missing shoe to give his sister an equal look of perplexion. Nii-chan...?
"Ah well, he's going to middle school now. He's almost all grown up - so I have to call him by a different, cooler title!" She nodded proudly, satisfied with her answer. "Besides, 'nii-chan' just sounds better, don't you think?"
Their mother chuckled and sighed to herself. "Whatever you think is best is fine with me, Momo. How about you, Shintaro?"
He scratched the side of his face. "I don't mind I guess, but it'll take some time getting used to and- aha!" he exclaimed as he located his shoe under the kitchen table, not knowing how it could have gotten there but in too much of a rush to care.
"Are you all set dear?"
"I think so," he looked himself up and down after slipping his shoe on. The new black uniform he had to wear was a little uncomfortable and felt a bit too big on him, the fabric itching as he sat down with his family.
"Good, now have some breakfast. Momo as well; it's the start of your new school year too." She piled up toast onto Momo's plate. "Eat. Unless of course, you want to try Shintaro's red bean ramen."
Momo brought a hand to her nose, glaring at the ramen bowl steaming in front of her brother's chair as if it was the evilest, most ominous being in the world. "Not on my life."
Shintaro deadpanned a look. "You don't know what you're missing."
"Not. On. My. Life." She crunched on the toast and sipped some orange juice.
Shintaro slurped a noodle loudly in response. "Okay~"
Mother placed an elbow on the table and leaned with a hand on her chin. She smiled fondly as she gazed at her children. "Heh, you know, I've been blessed that Shintaro's love for red beans is the only thing you two don't get along on. Other mothers aren't as lucky."
"It's okay kaa-san, no matter how disgusting red beans are-" Momo slung an arm around Shintaro's neck and smushed her cheek into his. "-I could never hate onii- ah, nii-chan."
Shintaro's response was muffled under his sister's smothering hug. "Yeah, me too."
"Hmm. I'm glad you're both looking out for each other and that I don't have to worry as much."
"You don't have to worry at all." Momo let go of Shintaro. "We're always fine. You on the other hand..." She trailed off, a troubled look on her face as she looked at the woman.
Shintaro followed his sister's line of sight, frowning. He glanced at the dark circles under their mom's eyes, knowing exactly what Momo was hinting at. "It's true kaa-san. You should take it easy now and again. Relax a little and have some time for yourself."
Mrs. Kisaragi blinked and yawned. "Is this about my jobs again?"
Momo tiddled her thumbs. "M-maybe..."
"Yes," Shintaro confirmed. He fixed his mother a firm look. She returned it with ease; she was the one he had learned it from after all.
"Shintaro, Momo, we've been over this. I already dropped from the fourth and third one, but I'm keeping the second," she stated in an unyielding tone. "It pays good, and we need it to support ourselves since your father isn't here."
Both Kisaragi siblings faltered upon hearing the mention of him, yet didn't back down completely. "We know that. But please look at yourself kaa-san. This isn't good for you!" Momo pleaded.
"We don't mind cutting back on a few things, like snacks or school supplies," Shintaro started suggesting. "We could do more around the house. I already take care of almost half the chores, you know."
"Listen, you two-"
"Maybe we could even get jobs of our own!" Momo sprung up. "Like, like delivering newspapers or something."
"Enough-"
"But kaa-san-" they both exclaimed at the same time.
"I don't want to hear it!" Their mother finally raised her voice and brought down her coffee mug onto the table with a forceful thud, yet no liquid sloshed out. Both siblings silenced themselves immediately. "Look, I appreciate that you both care about me, I really do, but I am the mother here. It's my responsibility to provide for you two and to worry about things like money, not your's. Your responsibilities are to be good students and children. Leave everything else to me. Understood?"
She stared at them hard with her resilient-kaa-san-gaze, locking them in as if she herself had her daughter's strange captivating power. Her kids could no longer find the words to argue back.
"...yes, okaa-san," they both bowed their heads in defeat. Her face softened and she stroked their hair.
"Good, now let's get going before we actually do become late."
The entrance ceremony was going off without a hitch, Shintaro was pleased to say later.
It was taking place in the middle school's gymnasium. He and hundreds of other students were sitting down to listen to the principal's speech regarding the school's rules, curriculum, and what to look forward to during the year. In all honesty, Shintaro was beginning to zone out from how equally long and boring it was.
Trying to kill the time quicker, he surveyed the other students around him and noticed that not too many students from his elementary school were attending. Most of the faces around him were completely new and unfamiliar. While this fact might probably seem daunting and disheartening to another student, it was fine for Shintaro. For all his years as an elementary student, he had barely known anyone who he could sincerely call a friend outside of a few polite acquaintances. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if this time, maybe this time it would be different.
It's alright if it stays the same, though, he thought while unconsciously playing with the threaded ends of his scarf. No other student else was wearing one, so it was quite probable that he had already isolated himself. It's usually easier to keep to myself anyway.
Shintaro turned his head to the back of the gymnasium to look at his family for a second. Kaa-san seemed to be having a conversation with a woman sporting a ponytail and blue hair clips. Probably another mother; the bespectacled man next to her was probably her husband.
He swerved his gaze to Momo. She was talking... to... air...?
No wait, Shintaro squinted his eyes and realized that there was indeed a kid in the seat next to Momo, even though he had sworn it was empty just a second ago. A girl with perfectly combed silky green hair in a purple dress. Probably a younger sister of another student. She looked a lot more composed than his sister and was calmly replying to whatever chatter Momo had involved her with.
Next to the reserved looking girl was a cheerful looking blond boy and a grumpy looking black-haired one. Younger brothers maybe? Shintaro wondered if they went to Momo's school. She was already talking to the girl as if they were friends, so it didn't seem too far-fetched. He'd ask about it later.
Luckily and before he had even realized it, the principal finished his speech and announced the ceremony to be over. They all stood up, bowed and then went off to meet with their families again.
"Congratulations Shintaro: you're a middle school student." His mom gave him a proud hug as he sauntered back over.
"Woohoo, nii-chan!" Momo declared and jumped into the hug as well.
"Hrmph." Despite being crushed under the weight of his loved ones, Shintaro's chest felt content even within the colder, rigid feel of his new school. "Thanks."
"To celebrate, we're going to a nice restaurant later because kaa-san doesn't have work tonight. Hopefully, they won't have any red beans," Momo said cheekily.
Her brother exhaled, amused and exasperated. "You only wish. Ah, wait," he remembered just before he forgot. "Hey Momo, does the girl you were talking to go to your school? Don't think I've ever seen you with her or your other friends."
"Oh, you mean Tsubomi-chan? No no, we just met now. She was really nice! It's too bad she doesn't go to my school, I'd like to see her again."
"Hn, alright. I hope you will too. Shall we go?"
The three of them packed up their things and left the building feeling completely untroubled. Shintaro didn't give the shrinking school behind him a second glance. He'd be back again tomorrow after all.
Tomorrow came quite quickly, and Shintaro found himself standing under the budding cherry trees once again.
"Remember Momo, just because our schools are separate now doesn't mean you can walk home alone," he urged to his sister with a serious face. "Wait for me to come pick you up as always."
Momo tugged at her own white uniform, the blue ribbon in the front already crumpled and tangled. "Hmmph, I could walk home by myself if I wanted. I'm part of the Mekameka Duo too, remember! I'm the one who has the power, after all. I'd totally be safe."
"Like I keep telling you, the word is 'mekakushi.' And Momo."
"But I'll walk with nii-chan anyway," she sighed into a smile, which soon cheeked into a smirk. "After all, he's the weaker one who might actually need protecting."
"H-hey, I'm not so weak!" he protested.
"You worry too much too; maybe I should call you 'kaa-chan' instead?"
"Momo!"
Their real mother stood a few steps away laughing quietly into her hand at their interaction, while also rubbing her eyes for any tears that dared to fall from the sight of her children growing up right before her eyes. Glancing at her watch she called out, "Alright you two! You've had time to chat but now it's time for Momo to go to school as well."
"Coming!" Momo hollered back. "Have a fun on the first day okay nii-chan? Make lots of friends and be the top of your class like always."
"I'll try." The latter part will be easier than the first part, though, he thought just a bit nervously. "Don't forget about yourself; I want to see more marks above sixty-five percent this year-" he poked her playfully in the forehead, "-we'll see about me making friends after that. Okay?"
"Kay! See you nii-chan!" With one last kiss to his forehead and a ruffle to his scarf, she waved as she skipped back to their waiting mom. "I'll wait for you later! Bye!"
"Goodbye." Shintaro didn't stop waving to both of them until they had left the school grounds and could no longer be seen. With no more reason to stay outside, he went into the school with a slightly lonely heart.
His assigned classroom was easy enough to find. A good number of students had already seated themselves. Shintaro looked the rows up and down to see if there were any seats he would prefer.
Aha. He spotted one near a window, the very last one left that overlooked the whole schoolyard. He put a bit more speed into his steps when walking over and plunking his bag onto the desk.
I'm lucky, thinking as he sat down on the chair, I'll be able to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom later. He flushed a little bit at his thoughts; could that have been any more shoujo? He had enough manga of that at home, there was no need to bring it here. Slightly smacking his forehead, he didn't hear the soft pitter-pattering steps coming over to his newly claimed desk.
"Hmm..." came a voice which Shintaro did hear,
Looking up to see the person who had walked over to him, he found himself suddenly staring into clear, brown eyes mimicking the color of acorns or chocolate. Zooming out from the eyes, he realized that he was really staring at a girl. Obviously not any younger or older than himself, she was wearing a tidy black girl's uniform that countered his own. She had long hair that matched her eyes, a strip of fringe in the front being held together with two blue, crisscrossing hairclips which immediately reminded him of the woman kaa-san had conversed with yesterday. (Her mother perhaps?)
"Uh," he started saying, his voice coming out weird and suddenly unlike him. "Hello?"
She didn't respond, only peered down at him and looked to be thinking deeply. About what, he couldn't tell. Her eyes held a glassy, tranquil quality to them and didn't betray any outward emotion. As Shintaro looked into them and at her for longer and longer, he began to feel his temperature increase a few degrees. Wow, she was... kinda pretty, he was suddenly deducing.
"H-hey, ah..?"
"..." She tilted her head, brown locks shifting on her shoulders, eyes centering on him further. Shintaro blinked back stupidly at his own reflection in her eyes Wide-eyed and tight-chested, he started to stutter even more. "I... um, I-I..."
Okay, maybe it wasn't just "kinda" pretty but actually "really" pretty, he was now thinking, hands clamming and sweating, a few degrees warmer turning into many degrees warmer. Definitely really pretty... really pretty and looking rather cross and disappointed. As he took an even closer glance, Shintaro finally noticed the annoyed crease in her forehead as she looked him up and down. Or perhaps she was looking his seat up and down.
It (rather embarrassingly) took Shintaro a few moments for his brain to click everything into place. "...oh. Oh! D-did you want this seat? I'm sorry for cutting ahead of you." Embarrassed, he started to gather his things. "I'll move if you want-"
"Stop... it's fine." Her voice was very soft-sounding (angelic almost), even as she cut between his sentence. Averting her eyes from him, she over to the seat right next to him. "I'll sit over here."
"Are, are you sure?" He couldn't help his voice sounding very unconfident - despite his personal deposition on befriending people, Shintaro didn't want his first classmate interaction to be left so humiliating.
The un-named girl once again didn't respond, simply nodding her head in one smooth motion. It only left Shintaro feeling more worried and uncertain, but he could find nothing more to add to their (barely a) conversation without escalating the already present awkwardness.
It was probably for the best anyway, because their teacher was soon walking into the classroom. Most of the students in the class had arrived, save for the unlucky few who had probably slept in late. As introductions were being given out and attendance began to be taken, Shintaro couldn't help but steal a few glances at the quiet, pretty girl next to him, preparing himself to look away if she were to glance back. She didn't, not even once, much to his strange disappointment. Without any warning, his mind began to wander.
Should I... ask for her name? That would be normal, wouldn't it? Maybe I could also ask what elementary school she came from? What books she likes and other things like that? That would be okay, just asking random things. Something normal people do with other normal people... right? Agh, thinking about this probably isn't normal, though. What's wrong with me...
"Kisaragi Shintaro."
Still, I wonder what kind of person she is. Even if she doesn't look like it, maybe she's really nice and swee-
"Kisaragi Shintaro."
Shintaro was jolted out of his thoughts and also out of his seat; he stood up sharply from his desk in a daze. "Wha-? Ah! P-present!" Crap, he hadn't heard his teacher's prompt at all, how completely mortifying. Bowing shakily, he tried to bite back the stutter as he heard the inevitable snickers from the class, although thankfully it was fewer than he expected. He couldn't bring himself to peek out and see if the mystery girl he had been so preoccupied with was laughing among them too.
"Please pay more attention next time, Kisaragi-kun."
"Yes." Shintaro felt like crawling back home and never coming out again. Sitting back down, it took all of his willpower not to hide his flushed face in his similarly colored muffler. The teacher moving on sounded like heaven to his ears.
"Miki Miyuki."
"Present."
"Namina Tsugumi."
"Present!"
"Tateyama Ayano."
"..."
"Tateyama Ayano."
"...present..."
Shintaro had to really strain himself to hear the person's answer. Looking at the strange girl once again, had it come from her? It sounded like it...
"Ah, would you mind speaking up a bit more, Tateyama-chan?"
"...I said 'I'm present,'" the voice rang out a bit clearer, most definitely coming from her. He noticed her feet tapping the floor and hands rubbing themselves nervously. She looked very uncomfortable right then. Shintaro consciously stilled his hand, lest to fly out to comfort her as he would do with Momo.
"Good, but please be louder next time. Now moving on..."
"Y-yes..."
"Good. Well then, moving on. Tsuru Sakura..."
Shintaro didn't hear the next student's 'present' - he was already zoning out again, his normally well-reined in thoughts spiraling away from him. No longer under the threat of attendance, he let his eyes remain on her, Tateyama Ayano, as it seemed to be. To his surprise (and confounding delight) she did look back at him, although only to downcast them a mere second later.
Maybe she is just shy after all. Tateyama Ayano... he pressed the name to his tongue and stored it away carefully in his memory, the same way he had memorized all the other names their teacher had called out. Well, almost the same. For some reason, this felt a whole lot different than merely going through the motions of remembering a random name or a simple test answer. It felt weird and somehow special, leaving a fuzzy, warm feeling inside.
Hmm, he glanced away from the intriguing girl named Ayano and looked at his hands, noting their tingly warmth. Was this what wanting to be someone's friend was like? He hadn't felt something like this before, so it was hard to tell for sure. It could be that, or maybe...?
Suddenly, every single shoujo manga he had ever read came bursting through his mind, yelling at him the most obvious answer to what this feeling could be. Immediately his face went ablaze, burning redder than his scarf. He clamped his hands over his face before anyone could notice, especially Ayano. I-it's too soon to tell if it's... that, just yet, he quelled himself. There's no room for embarrassing stuff at school, remember? For now, this feeling was just a mystery to him. But quite bizarrely, a mystery he actually felt excited to try to solve.
A small smile forming under his hands, the new feeling buzzed in his chest all through the rest of the introductory class.
It buzzed through him as the teacher handed out first-day assignments - pieces of cake for him, although he felt pity when he saw Ayano pale as she was given them.
Throughout lunch as well, it was there - he ate alone at his desk, not having enough interest to join his other classmates (who were making new groups and cliques among themselves at a scarily fast pace) or enough courage to say anything to Ayano, despite her also eating alone just a step away from him, his heart thumping in time to the skittish tapping of her foot.
All the way throughout the last few hours until it was time to leave, it was there. It was still with him once the bell rang, signaling the end of his first middle school day. Shintaro scratched his arm and raked his brain for ideas on how to quell this feeling for good...
...talking to her maybe?
Shintaro was pretty sure the one other small interaction they had after lunch-
"You're staring. It's creepy," she had accused when he had accidentally eased on making his glances unnoticeable.
"S-sorry..."
-didn't count as an actual proper conversation.
Ultimately, he guessed that it wouldn't hurt to try. Just to get more acquainted with a fellow classmate who seemed to have a more reserved personality similar to his own. Yeah, that was all. Now, all he had to do was find her.
She had already left the classroom before he had even gotten up to say goodbye to the teacher, so Shintaro made sure to keep his eyes sharp when walking out of the school. Once outside and still seeing no sign of her, his spirits began to sag. Maybe she already left for home, I'll have to wait for tomorrow...
Fortunately, he seemed to have done a rather good job of sharpening his eyesight, as he managed to spot her unmistakable blue clips amid the lessening students just as he was about to step past the school entrances.
With a growing grin and a reversed step, he began to call out, "Tateyama-san, may I speak with you for just a moment-"
"Otou-san! Over here!"
All of Shintaro's movements froze as he saw her scurry up to a tall man across the schoolyard. It was the man who had sat next to the woman (her mother after all!) from yesterday. He was wearing glasses, some stubble and a warm smile of his own.
Her father, Shintaro knew at once.
"..."
Her father, as his heart ached and he saw her wrap the man in a hug.
Shintaro felt the hand he had raised up fall back to his side.
...this was a stupid idea, he thought shakily, his chest thumping out of pain now, not with butterflies. Why had he wanted to talk with her in the first place? What a waste of time. Momo was waiting for him to pick her up anyway. He began to turn back to the way out, eager- desperate to avoid the familiar, all-consuming feeling of grief that, just a few moments ago, he had been certain that he was over by now. Right until-
"That's so funny, otou-san!"
Shintaro snapped back, eyes wide. Even though he knew who had spoken, his mind still felt a deep surprise. The voice just then had had such a happy tone to it... surely it couldn't have been Ayano?
"Let's tell okaa-san later."
But it was. Her smile stretched from ear to ear effortlessly at whatever joke her dad had said to her, her eyes alight and glowing in the sun. Shintaro could only look on, his gaze broadening in wonder.
Compared to the withdrawn, yet almost hostile girl from earlier, who was this bright and laughing new one? Had Ayano switched with her when he had blinked? Whoever this person was, it was as if the heavens themselves were shining through her smile and playing symphonies through her laugh.
Awestruck in place, Shintaro didn't move his feet nor his eyes until the father and daughter pair was out of sight amongst the blowing cherry blossom trees.
(Maybe there was room for those types of things at school.)
Red scarf dancing around him in the wind, he was one of the last students there. Momo would definitely complain and ask for something to make for it when he came late. For perhaps the first time, Shintaro didn't mind or even gave a second thought to it.
"Huh," he remarked, his own ear-to-ear smile beginning to pull together. He would talk to Ayano for sure tomorrow. Shintaro didn't care if he had to wait.
Because even then, he didn't think he'd forget such a pretty smile.
